Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to a braking device
particularly for skates.
The problem of braking the wheels in order to adjust
the speed of the skate is currently felt in conventional
roller skates, whether constituted by a shoe associated
with a support for two pairs of mutually parallel wheels or
for in-line wheels.
It is known to use appropriate blocks or pads, usually
made of rubber, which are placed at the toe or heel region
l0 of the shoe; when the user tilts the shoe forwards or
backwards, the free end of the blocks or pads interacts
with the ground and braking is thus achieved.
However, these solutions are not ideal, since they
require the user to rotate the shoe, and therefore the
frame associated therewith, at the toe or at the heel,
which can cause a loss of balance with consequent falls.
US Patent No. 1,402,010 discloses a roller skate
having a band that can be fastened on the user's leg above
the malleolar region, a rod being connected thereto.
2o Said rod surrounds the rear of the leg, is then curved
so as to laterally affect said leg and is associated, at
its ends, in the malleolar region, with a lever system
articulated to a structure protruding from the wheel
supporting frame.
Said lever system protrudes at the rear of the frame
and is connected to a plate that is shaped approximately
complementarily to the curvature of part of an underlying
and facing wheel.
The main drawback is that a relative motion occurs
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between the band and the leg throughout sports practice,
which does not make its use comfortable due to the
continuous rubbing of the band on the leg.
Furthermore, the plate is activated every time the
user bends his leg backwards beyond a given angle, without
true and easy possibilities of varying this condition.
Furthermore, each user has a different leg shape, so
that braking is achieved at different rotation angles for
an equal rod length.
to Said rod also acts and presses in the malleolar
region, thus causing discomfort or producing accidental
impacts.
Finally, the wheel wears rapidly.
US Patent No. 4,275,895 discloses a brake for skates
with two pairs of mutually parallel wheels, which acts at
the rear wheels.
Said brake is constituted by a flap associated with
the shoe in a rearward position, a blade being associated
in a rearward position with said flan and pivoted at the
2o shoe supporting frame.
Said blade has, at its free end, a transverse element
whereon two C-shaped elements are formed at the lateral
ends, said elements interacting, following a backward
rotation applied to the flap, with the rear wheels that
face said elements, so as to interact with the rolling
surface of said wheels.
However, even this solution has drawbacks: it is in
fact structurally complicated and therefore difficult to
industrialize; it also requires adapted springs for
3o repositioning the flap in the condition wherein the two C-
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shaped elements do not interact with the wheels, and this
further increases structural complexity.
Furthermore, the structural configuration of the brake
causes the two C-shaped elements to interact with the wheel
even upon a minimal backward rotation applied to the flap
and consequently even for involuntary movements, thus
producing undesired braking actions and, accordingly,
possible losses of balance or lack of coordination.
Finally, the interaction of the C-shaped element at
1o the rolling surface of the wheels leads to their rapid wear
and therefore to non-optimum rolling, which necessarily
entails continuous replacement of said wheels.
US Patent No. 4,300,781 discloses a braking device for
skates having pairs of mutually parallel wheels.
The device comprises a brake constituted by a blade
that is pivoted transversely at the rear end of the shoe
supporting frame; pads are associated with the ends of said
blade and face the rolling surface of the pair of rear
wheels.
The brake is activated by using a cable adapted to
rotate the blade in contrast with a spring that is
associated with the support for the pair of front wheels,
so as to move the pads into contact with the rolling
surface of the pair of rear wheels.
Said cable can be activated by means of rings or
handles associated with a band that can be placed on the
user's legs by virtue of temporary connection means.
However, this solution has considerable drawbacks;
first of all, brake activation can lead to possible losses
of balance because the user's body does not assume a
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correct position for controlling the sudden speed
reduction; only the skater's hand is in fact involved in
the activation of the brake.
Furthermore, if the skater is wearing trousers, when
traction is applied to the rings the band may slip along
the trousers or make them slide along the leg, hindering
the braking action.
Furthermore, there is a loose cable that, in addition
to being a hindrance to the skater, can accidentally catch
during skating, especially since coordination of the arm-
leg movement moves the legs rhythmically laterally
outwards.
US Patent No. 4,033,596 discloses a roller-ski having
braking means in addition to engagement means for the tip
of a shoe. The braking means are substantially constituted
by a bar protruding above a shoe supporting frame in the
rear region thereof, said bar being pivoted transversely to
said frame at one end and having, at the other end, a
curved plate for supporting the user's calf.
2o A frame is associated transversely and to the rear
with respect to the bar; once the bar has been rotated
backwards, said frame interacts with the rolling surfaces
of two wheels that are in turn freely pivoted to the shoe
supporting frame.
If this brake is used for roller skates, severe
drawbacks arise due to the fact that the sport practiced
with a skate entails continuous oscillations of the leg
that can lead to undesired activation of the braking
action.
3o Moreover, the presence of the bar would be dangerous
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for the user, since it constitutes a blunt body, completely
independent of the leg, which might therefore be dangerous
in a fall .
Furthermore, the described solution does not allow to
achieve a gradual braking action.
European Patent Application No. 93106636.9 discloses a
braking device particularly for skates that comprise a shoe
composed of a quarter articulated to a shell associated
with a supporting frame for one or more wheels.
l0 Said braking device comprises at least one rod member
connected to the quarter and slideable with respect to the
shell, said rod member having a fork-like end that
interacts with one or more of the wheels beyond a
presettable angle of backward rotation of the quarter.
Although this solution is undoubtedly an improvement
and is valid, it has some minor drawbacks related to the
fact that it is not possible to easily achieve a good
graduality in the braking action, since this is mainly
entrusted to the user s skill and sensitivity; the fork may
furthermore jam or deform during the braking action.
The aim of the present invention is therefore to solve
the described technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks
described above in conventional and providing a braking
device that is structurally very simple, easy to
industrialize, and does not jam when actuated.
Within the scope of the above aim, an important object
is to provide a braking device the user can activate in
case of actual need, therefore not accidentally, at the
same time protecting the components from any deformations
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during use.
Another object is to provide a device that, in
addition to the preceding characteristics, is reliable and
safe in use, has low manufacturing costs, and can also be
applied to conventional skates.
This aim, these objects, and others which will become
apparent hereinafter are achieved by a braking device,
particularly for skates comprising a quarter articulated to
a frame, at least one rod member being connected to said
to quarter, characterized in that said at least one rod member
is slidingly associated at a seat that acts as a guide and
is associated with said frame, said at least one rod member
being operatively connected to a brake that interacts with
the ground when said quarter is rotated backwards.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of some particular embodiments thereof,
illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
2o figure 1 is a side view of the braking device
associated with the skate in the inactive condition;
figure 2 is a side view of a further embodiment of the
braking device in the inactive condition;
figure 3 is a view of the embodiment of figure 2 in
the active condition;
figure 4 is a side view of still a further embodiment
of the braking device in the inactive condition;
figure 5 is a view of the embodiment of figure 4 in
the active condition.
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With reference to the above figures, the reference
numeral 1 designates the braking device for a skate 2,
which comprises a shoe 3 composed of a shell 4 surrounding
the rear lateral region of the user's leg and articulated
to a shell 5.
A U-shaped frame 6 is associated below said shell, and
two or more wheels, designated by the reference numeral 7,
are pivoted between the wings of said frame, said wheels
being optionally mutually aligned.
to Conventional levers for fastening the quarter 4 and
the shell 5 are applied.
The braking device comprises at least one curved rod
member 8, a first end 9 whereof is pivoted to the rear and
transversely with respect to the quarter 4.
The rod member 8 has a body 10 slidingly associated at
a seat 11 that acts as a guide and is formed to the rear on
said frame 6 or on a support 12 rearwardly associated with
said frame and protruding therefrom.
The seat 11 is formed axially with respect to the
2o support 12 and has a slightly curved shape, so as to allow,
when the quarter is rotated backwards, the free and guided
sliding of the body 10 towards the ground 13 without
causing deformations or jamming.
A brake 15 is preferably rotatably associated with the
second end 14 of the rod member 8 and is constituted by a
pad adapted to interact with the ground 13 and
accommodatable, partially or not, within the seat 11.
The use of the invention is as follows: during normal
skating, the quarter 4 can oscillate without this motion,
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transmitted to the rod member 8, causing the brake 15 to
interact with the ground.
The rod member forces the brake to interact with the
ground only upon a given backward rotation of the quarter,
and therefore beyond a preset or presettable angle.
The fact that the rod member slides within the seat 11
formed in the support 12 gives said element greater
structural strength which, in view of the lack of
deformations or jamming, ensures an optimum interaction of
1o the brake with the ground and thus an optimum braking
action.
It is thus evident that the invention has achieved the
intended aim and objects, a braking device having been
obtained that is structurally very simple and wherein brake
activation ensures a stable, continuous, and safe braking
action without jamming, deformations, or vibrations.
Furthermore, since the rod member is guided within the
support, during use it does not undergo deformations caused
by the force acting on the brake when it interacts with the
ground.
The device according to the invention is susceptible
of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are
within the scope of the same inventive concept.
Thus, for example, in figures 2 and 3 the reference
numeral 101 designates the braking device, which comprises
at least one slightly curved rod member 108 protruding to
the rear and longitudinally with respect to the quarter 104
towards the ground 113.
The rod member 108 has a second end 114 slidingly
associated at a seat 111 that acts as a guide and is formed
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to the rear on said frame 106 or on a support 112
rearwardly associated with said frame and protruding
therefrom.
The seat 111 is formed axially with respect to the
support 112 and is slightly curved, so as to allow, when
the quarter is rotated backwards, the free and guided
sliding of the rod member 108 towards the ground 113
without deformations or jamming.
A slot 116 is formed longitudinally on the second end
l0 114 of the rod member 108 and acts as a seat for the end of
an element, such as a cable or ring 117, for connection to
the brake 115.
Said cable or ring is in fact associated, at its ends,
with said slot and with said brake.
A flexible element is arranged coaxially to said cable
or ring 117 or in a region adjacent thereto, said flexible
element being for example constituted by a cylindrical
helical compression spring 118, the ends whereof abut
against said rod member and said brake.
2o In figures 4 and 5, the reference numeral 201
designates the braking device, which comprises at least one
slightly curved rod member 208 protruding to the rear and
longitudinally with respect to the quarter 204 towards the
ground 213.
The rod member 208 is provided with a second end 214
slidingly associated at a seat 211 that acts as a guide and
is formed to the rear on said frame 206 or on a support 212
rearwardly associated with said frame and protruding
therefrom.
3o The seat 211 is formed axially with respect to the
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support 212 and has a slightly curved shape so as to allow,
when the quarter is rotated backwards, the free and guided
sliding of the rod member 208 towards the ground 213
without deformations or jamming.
The end of an element, such as a cable or ring 217,
for connection to the brake 215, is associated with the
second end 214 of the rod member 208.
Said cable or ring is in fact associated, at its ends,
with said second end and with said brake.
1o The braking device comprises means for compensating
for the variation in the direction of the forces applied to
the rod member 208 and to the brake 215, said means being
constituted by at least one ball 219 interposed between the
second end 214 and the brake 215.
In the particular illustrated embodiment there are
three balls, the function whereof is to allow, as the
direction of the force applied by the rod member 208 varies
during brake activation, to compensate for the difference
between the direction of the pressing force of the quarter
104, and therefore of the rod member 108, and the direction
of the force to be applied to the brake 215.
The three balls, as they can roll with respect to each
other and can move inside the seat 211, perform a self-
centering movement.
All the described components can of course be replaced
with other mechanically equivalent ones; thus, for example,
the support 12, 112, 212 can be associated with the shell
instead of with the frame, achieving the same result.
Furthermore, the materials and the dimensions
3o constituting the individual components of the braking
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device may be the most pertinent according to the specific
requirements.
